Endgame guide
Opposition in King and Pawn Endgames
Most king and pawn endgames are decided by a single idea: the opposition. Two kings stand one square apart, and whoever must move loses ground. Master this and you will save half points you used to lose, and win games you used to draw.
The rule
Kings face each other with one square between them: whoever is NOT to move "has the opposition" and controls the position. The side to move must step aside and let the other king advance.
King in front, pawn behind
The winning setup is your king IN FRONT of the pawn, not beside it. With the king two squares ahead of the pawn, the win is automatic regardless of opposition. With the king beside the pawn, victory depends on a single tempo.
The rook pawn exception
Everything above fails on the a- and h-files. If the defending king reaches the corner in front of a rook pawn, the game is a draw — there is no way to evict it without stalemate.
Why it matters everywhere
Every queen trade, every simplification you consider should be evaluated through this lens: "if everything comes off, who has the opposition?" Strong players trade into won pawn endings and avoid drawn ones — that judgment is built on this one pattern.
Practice king & pawn technique